In the Solomon Islands, Intelsat’s Hands-On Partnership Delivers Enhanced Connectivity through Cellular Backhaul to All Across the Remote Pacific Nation

Geographically isolated island nations in the Pacific typically face unique and numerous challenges in ensuring that their entire population, particularly those living in remote and rural locations, have access to reliable connectivity. In addition to terrain and other logistical difficulties, the high costs of using traditional terrestrial connectivity and cellular backhaul to connect populations of a small size are difficult to justify from a business perspective. Yet, mobile network operators are obligated to deliver connectivity and provide all citizens with equal opportunity to participate in a digitized future.

Such was the case in the Solomon Islands, located in the Pacific Ocean to the northeast of Australia with a population of just over 750,000 dispersed across six major islands and 1,000 smaller ones. 

Expanding reach through partnership

With 75% of the country’s citizens residing in areas with limited or outdated connectivity options, Our Telekom, the country’s primary mobile network operator, turned to Intelsat to introduce 3G and 4G services across the country, including in the most remote and rural areas. The network operator had been utilizing cellular backhaul from Intelsat for several years but now sought to expand the partnership to bring modernized connectivity to the entire island nation. 

Cellular backhaul and managed services drive network modernization

Working collaboratively with Our Telekom, Intelsat’s managed services team of technical experts designed and deployed a cost-effective model that included migrating the operator from C-band to Ku-band and installing a completely new satellite hub and main antenna in the capital city of Honiara. With training and guidance from Intelsat, Our Telekom teams retrofitted antennas with Ku components, making it possible for remote sites to begin supporting 3G and 4G technologies. Throughout the project, Intelsat worked alongside the customer every step of the way, providing guidance and expertise and even overcoming extreme weather conditions, including heavy rains and a typhoon, to ensure that all installations and activations were executed successfully. 

With an upgraded network, an expanded footprint, and greater high-speed bandwidth from Intelsat’s CellBackhaul turnkey product, Our Telekom is now delivering high-quality 3G experiences across the Solomon Islands with readiness to support upgrades to 4G in the future. In addition to providing superior levels of connectivity and closing gaps in coverage, the new and enhanced network has led to a surge in customer satisfaction as well as new incremental revenues from data usage for the mobile operator. 

Strengthening sovereignty and security

Because all network infrastructure, as well as all voice and data traffic, remains within the country, Our Telekom is also meeting regulatory requirements related to sovereignty and delivering a more secure and higher performing service to customers, as compared to providers using backhaul solutions that transmit traffic from outside the country via undersea fiber cables which are less secure and vulnerable to damage. 

Ongoing support that builds local expertise and scales for the future

In a reflection of the ongoing and evolving nature of the partnership, Intelsat continues to serve as an extension of the Our Telekom team, remotely monitoring the network, assisting in troubleshooting, and generating performance status reports that offer recommendations for improving the network and optimizing service. Intelsat’s emphasis on providing training and knowledge sharing in its partnership approach has given Our Telekom local employees new skills and capabilities to manage their own network, address issues, and implement any needed fixes, with Intelsat available at all times to provide guidance and suggestions for corrective actions. 

With Intelsat’s scalable, future-ready solution, continued hands-on support, and commitment to partnership, Our Telekom is positioned to meet demand as technology and innovation evolve. Intelsat and Our Telekom expect to continue adding more sites that will power new services as well as the eventual introduction of 5G, helping Solomon Islands’ residents and businesses remain connected in today’s digital world.  

About CellBackhaul:

CellBackhaul is Intelsat’s comprehensive satellite managed service that enables mobile network operators to rapidly and cost-effectively expand 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G coverage into underserved and remote areas. Utilizing GEO and LEO advanced satellite technologies, it offers reliable, end-to-end connectivity with expert support, helping operators reach new markets and enhance network reliability globally.